The Justice Department said it was "assessing the situation"

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Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement Thursday that he asked the White House to request that the U.S. Department of Justice begin an investigation into the fatal shooting of a black man by police in Falcon Heights, a suburb of the Twin Cities.

Philando Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds captured the aftermath of the incident on live video and claims he was shot five times during a traffic stop with her and her young child in the car at the time.

"He didn't have any last words," Reynolds said Thursday morning. "His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he was gone instantly."

The Justice Department said Thursday that it was aware of the incident and was "assessing the situation."

***WARNING: Video may be disturbing to some viewers.*** Philando Castile was fatally shot by police in Minnesota on July 6, 2016. A woman identifying herself as his girlfriend live streamed the immediate aftermath to Facebook. This portion of the streamed video appears to show a police officer pointing a gun through the car window.

(Published Thursday, July 7, 2016)

Protests erupted in Minnesota overnight following the shooting, the second police-involved shooting of a black man to gain nationwide attention in as many days.

The St. Anthony Police Department said handgun was recovered from the scene and the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave. Castile had a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm, his uncle Clarence Castile told NBC News.